bashful

[ bash-fuhl ]
See synonyms for bashful on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. uncomfortably diffident and easily embarrassed; shy; timid.

  2. indicative of, accompanied by, or proceeding from bashfulness.

Origin of bashful

1
First recorded in 1540–50; (a)bash + -ful

synonym study For bashful

1. See shy1.

Other words for bashful

Opposites for bashful

Other words from bashful

  • bash·ful·ly, adverb
  • bash·ful·ness, noun
  • o·ver·bash·ful, adjective
  • o·ver·bash·ful·ly, adverb
  • o·ver·bash·ful·ness, noun
  • un·bash·ful, adjective
  • un·bash·ful·ly, adverb
  • un·bash·ful·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use bashful in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for bashful

bashful

/ (ˈbæʃfʊl) /


adjective
  1. disposed to attempt to avoid notice through shyness or modesty; diffident; timid

  2. indicating or characterized by shyness or modesty

Origin of bashful

1
C16: from bash, short for abash + -ful

Derived forms of bashful

  • bashfully, adverb
  • bashfulness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012